Arsenal Urged to Strengthen Midfield with Koné and Guimarães
Two of France’s great midfield enforcers have delivered a clear message to Arsenal: keep loading the engine room.
Patrice Evra has thrown his weight behind a potential Premier League move for Manu Koné, even if it means one of Manchester United’s most recognisable figures openly talking up a switch to north London. At the same time, Claude Makelele has given his seal of approval to Arsenal’s pursuit of Newcastle United star Bruno Guimarães, a chase that has already moved into the personal-terms stage, according to reports.
Different profiles. Same conclusion. Arsenal, in their eyes, is the right stage.
Evra: Koné has “the tools” for England – and for Arsenal
Speaking to Stake, Evra made it clear he sees Koné as tailor‑made for the Premier League’s relentlessness.
“I like Manu Kone's profile for the Premier League. He has energy, he carries the ball, he likes duels and he works for the team,”
he said, distilling the Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder’s game into the traits English football demands.
For Evra, it’s not just about quality on the ball. It’s survival in a league that never slows down.
“All of those things matter in England. The Premier League is faster. You don't get time to breathe. So the important thing is adaptation. Don't judge him after five games.”
That line could double as advice to any fan base itching for instant returns. Koné, 23, is the kind of midfielder who breaks lines with his running and relishes physical contact. Evra clearly believes that under the right manager, that raw material can be refined into something formidable.
“If he goes to Arsenal with a manager who knows how to use him, I think he can do well. He definitely has the tools. Then it is about consistency.”
Evra’s push is unambiguous: if Koné is to land in England, Arsenal should be at the front of the queue.
Arsenal’s priority: Bruno Guimarães at the heart of a title machine
While Evra talks up Koné, Arsenal’s recruitment radar is locked on another target. The club are currently prioritising a move for Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United, with the Brazilian reported to have agreed personal terms.
If Koné represents potential, Guimarães offers proven, top‑end Premier League influence. And Makelele, speaking to ComeOn, sees a perfect fit between player and project.
“Bruno Guimaraes is an ambitious player who sees his career one way: Champions League football, always, and teams built to win titles in Europe,”
he said.
That ambition, Makelele argues, aligns with what Mikel Arteta has built.
“Arsenal tick every box. They won the Premier League, they've gone deep in the Champions League, and they're built to go again. It's always right for a good player to join a great team, and Arsenal have done great business.”
This is not just flattery. It’s a statement that Arsenal now sit in the bracket of clubs that can realistically promise a player like Guimarães the platform he wants: domestic titles and deep European runs.
Makelele did not hold back on his assessment of the Brazil international’s level.
“Bruno Guimaraes is a very good player, exceptional, as we saw with Brazil. It's his career and his decision, but his game fits Arsenal perfectly.”
Short, sharp, and pointed. In Makelele’s eyes, Guimarães is not just another option for Arsenal’s midfield. He is the archetype of what they need to stay at the top.
Evra sees Koné as a gamble worth taking. Makelele views Guimarães as almost a sure thing. Between the two, Arsenal are being told by some of the game’s sharpest midfield minds to double down on their most important area of the pitch.
The question now is not whether Arsenal are an attractive destination. That debate is over. The real intrigue lies in how far they are willing to go, and which midfielder they ultimately decide will carry their next title charge.
